Adam Beesley celebrates making it 3-0 to Kidsgrove Athletic against Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Adam Beesley celebrates making it 3-0 to Kidsgrove Athletic against Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

Chasetown FC’s FA Cup hopes are over at the first hurdle for the second season running after a 3-0 defeat at Kidsgrove Athletic.

Despite showing signs of a comeback in the second half with Gary Birch and Ben Jevons looking strong, hopes of emulating their previous feats in the world’s most famous cup competition eventually fizzled out.

Kidsgrove had the better of the first half play, the first of a series of long-range shots flying in from Sam Hall in the fourth minute but the ball cleared the crossbar, and Ryan Price spared Jevons’ blushes three minutes later as he collected an ambitious back pass.

The Grove had the ball in the net on eight minutes after Dave Walker lashed home a rebounded shot off Price’s legs, but the strike was ruled offside.

Chasetown did not find a breakthrough until the 16th minute when Dave Egan and Birch played the ball to Grant Ryan, his cross sent over the bar by Jevons before Birch unleashed a fine solo effort but his shot was wide.

Claims for a home penalty on 22 minutes were turned down after John Branch challenged Walker heftily, before Chris Peel came into the game for the Scholars with a brace of fine crosses which came to nothing, Jevons heading the second wide.

Hall went close from long range again on 38 minutes, but two minutes later he was successful from closer to the target.  A corner from Tim Saunders was missed by Price as he tried to gather, and Hall nodded the ball past the Scholars defence and into the net.

Birch and Jack Farmer enjoyed the first chances of the second half, while skipper Dave Egan headed a David Bridgewater free kick wide as the Scholars looked a little brighter.

Chasetown's Danny Smith leaps highest to head the ball goalwards. Pic: Dave Birt
Chasetown's Danny Smith leaps highest to head the ball goalwards. Pic: Dave Birt

Farmer would depart with an ankle injury, however, and Kidsgrove made it two on 73 minutes.  A long ball from the defence fell to John Branch but Walker intercepted and set up Liam Shotton to drive past Price and double the hosts’ lead, and things would go from bad to worse for the Scholars as manager Charlie Blakemore was sent to the stands soon after.

Jevons and Peel both saw chances as Chasetown tried desperately to fight back, while Danny Smith fired wide on 81 minutes and home keeper Steve Intihar whipped the ball off Birch’s toe as he was about to shoot.

The visitors’ perseverance came to nothing, however, and with two minutes to go Adam Beesley put the lid on it with a right-footed shot just inside the post to make it three for the Grove and seal Chasetown’s fate.

The Scholars will look to pick themselves up on Saturday (September 18) as they visit Worksop Town, 3pm kick-off.

Kidsgrove: Intihar, Dan Smith, Dove (c), Ward, Swartz, Hall, Irwin, T Saunders, Walker, Shotton, Beesley.  Subs: Harper, Bridge, Morris.
Chasetown: Price, Farmer, Peel, Cohen, J Branch, Bridgewater, Stephens, Egan (c), Birch, Ryan, Jevons.  Subs: Swann-Horler (Stephens 61), Danny Smith (Ryan 61), G Saunders, M Branch (Farmer 65), Teesdale, Woolley.